Study and development of thin films of shape memory ceramics and superelastic zirconia

Shape memory ceramic materials, including zirconia, are a unique class of materials that possess the ability to "remember" their original shape and return to it after being deformed by an external force. This property, known as shape memory effect, is due to the ability of the material to undergo a reversible phase transformation from one crystal structure to another in response to changes in temperature or stress. Zirconia, also known as zirconium dioxide, is a commonly used shape memory ceramic material due to its high mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and resistance to wear and corrosion. It finds applications in a wide range of fields, including biomedical engineering, aerospace, and energy. The unique properties of shape memory ceramics, and zirconia in particular, make them an exciting and promising area of research and development for future materials and technologies. Several decades ago, pioneering research discovered some indications of a shape memory effect in ceramics based on zirconia. Unfortunately, subsequent research on the topic has been limited due to the inherent brittleness and microcracking of these materials. These issues have made it difficult to observe a complete cycle of shape change and recovery. Despite these challenges, there has been an increase in interest in recent years towards the development of zirconia-based shape memory ceramics due to their potential for use in various applications. Recent advancements in material processing techniques and characterization methods have shown promise in overcoming some of the difficulties associated with observing the shape memory effect in zirconia-based ceramics. Ongoing research in this field is expected to yield exciting new discoveries and applications for shape memory ceramics. Here it is proposed a study and characterization of yttria stabilized zirconia and ceria stabilized zirconia thin films, deposited on silicon substrate with magnetron sputtering.